What License Do You Need to Drive in Fiji?
Renting a car gives you the ultimate freedom to explore the islands of Fiji . The good news is that visitors to Fiji can drive with an overseas driving license. However, there are rules when it comes to the languages used for overseas driving licenses, while some car rental companies have different policies when it comes to which driving licences they accept. We go into more detail in this guide to driving in Fiji with your overseas license.
For more car talk, take a look at the Things to Know About Car Rental in Fiji and the 10 Safety Tips for Driving in Fiji.
Table of Contents
In Short…
To hire from many car rental companies in Fiji, you need to have a full valid driving license (not a provisional license) that is written in English. If it is not written in English, your original license must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit.
A Note About Car Rental Company Conditions
Drivers must also meet the minimum age requirements of the car rental company, typically no younger than 21 years old, and have held a full driving license for no less than three years.
© FijiPocketGuide.comUsing an Overseas Driving License in Fiji
While the authorities in Fiji recognise all valid driving licenses from English-speaking countries, drivers with a license that is not written in English will need an International Driving Permit (IDP) – more on that in the section below.
The same also applies to presenting your overseas driving license to your chosen rental company. However, rental companies tend to have their own policies on what overseas driving licenses they will accept, mainly concerning the length of time you have held the full valid driver’s license, as well as the age of the driver. Examples of these are:
- Thrifty Car Rental – Accepts all overseas licenses for drivers over the age of 21.
- Avis Fiji – Accepts all overseas licenses for drivers over the age of 21 with at least two years of driving experience.
- Budget – Accepts all overseas licenses for drivers over the age of 25 with at least two years of driving experience.
- Angels Rental Cars – Accepts all current licenses for drivers over the age of 23 with at least three years of driving experience.
- NCH Rentals – Accepts all overseas licenses for drivers over the age of 19.
- Central Rentals – Accepts all overseas licenses for drivers over the age of 25.
Learn more about these car rental companies and many others in The 20 Best Car Rentals in Fiji.
If you are under 25 and/or have held your full driving license for less than three years, we recommend contacting your chosen car rental company before booking to ensure that your driving license meets their requirements. We recommend doing this before booking a vehicle, as many car rental companies in Fiji charge a cancellation fee.
Note that provisional licenses are not accepted when hiring a car in Fiji.
© FijiPocketGuide.comHow to Get an International Driving Permit (IDP)
If your driving license is not written in English, you must present both your original driving license and your IDP to your chosen car rental company. If you don’t have an IDP, then you will need to obtain one before arriving in Fiji, as you can typically only apply for an IDP from the country where your driving license has been issued.
How you apply for your IDP varies between countries. While in some countries, you can only apply in person at a local transport authority or government, in others, you can apply online or by post.
The best way to find out how to apply for an IDP is to contact your country’s transport authority. Note that some scam websites are issuing fake IDPs, so that’s why we recommend going through more official channels in your home country.
What You Need to Apply for an IDP
In most cases, the following are required to apply for an IDP:
- A photocopy of both sides of your driving license
- A recent passport-style photograph
- A completed application form
- Some countries may require a copy of your national identity card
- Some countries may require a fee.
Be aware that your application could take up to a month to process, so be sure to start the IDP application process as soon as possible before your trip to Fiji. Typically, IDPs are valid for three years from the issue date.
For more tips on driving in Fiji, take a look at How to Drive in Fiji + 10 Essential Road Rules.
More About Driving in Fiji with Your Overseas License
That’s it for our guide to driving in Fiji with your overseas license; for more information about driving in Fiji, check out the following articles:
- The Driving Times in Fiji You Need to Know
- What Documents Do I Need to Travel to Fiji?
- How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Fiji?
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Guide to Transportation in Fiji.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across Fiji and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Land Transport Authority (Road safety advice - Updated [2025])
- Tourism Fiji (General travel advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Immigration (Visa and immigration advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (Customs and visitor taxes - Updated [2025])
- Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (Biosecurity advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Meteorological Service (Weather forecast and warnings - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Bureau of Statistics (Statistics and travel data - Updated [2025])
- Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Tourism statistics - Updated [2025])
- SPTO (Pacific tourism advice - Updated [2025])
- Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association (Tourism trade association - Updated [2025])
- Safe Travel (New Zealand travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Smart Traveller (Australia travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
- Travel.State.Gov (U.S. travel advisory for Fiji - Updated [2025])
Our editorial standards: At Fiji Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
